“Appointing new head coach is always lottery. No one knows will he suit to team or not. Future will show it, but there are several reasons why we have chosen Milton Hagey and we believe that he will have good result”- stated Gia Nizharadze president of Georgian Rugby Union about appointing new head coach at press-conference.
It is difficult not to agree with Nizharadze, there are several examples of gaining famous specialists who were very unsuccessful head coaches. Future will show, what will bring Hagey to Georgian national rugby team. But now we can judge this specialist only according to his past:  Hagey used to play for U-16 and U-18 age teams of New Zealander south island and Southland province. In 1982-88 years he used to play for national team of Southland province, in 1980 for U-17 “All Blacks” and in 1982 for U-19 member of national team. In 1990-96 he used to play for “Bay of Plenty” and held 48 matches, in 1992 he used to play for New Zealander clubs “Marist” and “President XV”. He used to play for South African and English clubs. He used to play on No.9 position.
As for Hagey’s coach career, Hagey was “Preston Lodge” and in 2000-2002 was working as assistant of head coach for “Bay of Blacks”, in 2003-2007 was working as assistant for head coach for “Wanganui”. At the same time he was champion of the third division of local championship in New Zealand. In 2006-2007 season, he went through the final of Heartland championship. In 2000 Hagey was working as specialist-coach for U-17 and U-19 team. In 2010-2011 he was working on the same position for U-20 team and in 2007 he was working for Rugby Union of New Zealand as specialist-coach. In 2006-07 years he was assistant of head coach of children and youth teams, in 2008 he was assistant of head coach of “Majors”, in 2009-2011 he was working as head coach of “Steelers” and head of rugby development. Next year Georgian Rugby Union will sign official contract with Hagey. According to it, he will stay in Georgia with 2+2 system. In the contract there is term which gives right to Georgian side to stop contract with him in case of any dislike. Milton’s salary is 9 000 EUR in a month, which is not really much.

Zura Ksovreli